For King and Coin

A anger fuels the bellows of my heart. The red haze that fills my vision after I say the words “ I chose her.” The screams of the villagers, the sly smile on the bandits faces turns in to a look of fear when they see what they have released. My face is wet with their blood, my arms moving with one purpose to kill them all. This is no work for my bow, this is something I must to with my hands, I need to feel the metal sliding threw the bandit woman’s back. I have to hear the tearing of flesh as my blades sink into the chest of these vile people. I steal the last breath from one of this scum spinning them to face me so I can look him in the eye nose to nose and eye to eye and see the light go out in his.
Gone is my care for my companions, my lover whom I came here to save. None of that matters. All that now matters is the dance. The song of my blades playing their melody, the screams of these people, be it the men their women, children they must all pay.

unsent letter

By candlelight Phiter sighs and closes his letter. Sliding it gently into his new acquired pack, before blowing out the lone candle and sliding under a heavily woven blanket on the hay stuffed bed.

Dear First Enchanter,

I am sorry for my delayed return to the circle. By happenstance I have encountered the man you sent to retrieve me. We are currently hunting down the artifact.

My First Enchanter, I have served loyally and proved my worth time and time again in the tower. Why did you not tell me more about the artifact? When I left the tower I was informed that the Tevinter artifact was purely academic in nature. Though with the malediction that seems to hang over this artifact and the level of attention it is receiving shows that, it holds much larger and darker secrets then you lead me to believe.

My friend Elora died protecting me, the excavation team was murdered, and everyone seems to know more about this blasted artifact then myself. I deserve to know what I am risking not only my life but also the lives of my compatriots. Something dark holds sway of this artifact and were it not for the few people I have met, I would be dead as well.

Demons, apostates, humanity at its darkest, the torture and death of innocent people.

Elgar’nan’s followers seems to be following us as well, driving people mad. Maker, preserve us from the evil. Should the Maker will it we will return victorious. There is a caravan heading in the direction we need to go. One can hope they don’t stab us in the back as well. Their horses look strong and able and my feet are sore and torn.

-panic on letter head-

It seems Phiter got minimal sleep during the night. Around his cot and impromptu desk, there are a pile of crumpled papers. Unfurling each of them you read the following.

Dear First Enchanter,
The adventure is going well, bad weather seems to have waylaid the expedition and we are a while behind. It is slow going though I am trying to get back post haste. The members of the excavation team are doing well…

The letter trails ceases. Picking up another,

Beloved First Enchanter,
I, your trusted student Phiter, have made contact with the excavation team, however they were worst for wear. I retrieved the artifact and left with a couple allies for the road. It has been slow going but we are making our way to the circle. The artifact however seems to have disappeared in the night while I slept. After searching the camp I could not find…

and another,

First Enchanter,
Everything is fucked…

another still,

First Enchanter,
The excavation site was ravaged, blood and bodies splattered across the site. I don’t know what hit them or why, the artifact was still there, I grabbed it and I left with friends. En route to the circle Mr. Guss was killed, I hauled the cart myself to just shy of Denerim. At that point we were attacked by bandits and they took off with the cart, and the artifact.

The letters continue on and on, eventually you see Phiter asleep in his bed with his bed open. Leaning over you read one final letter.

Dear First Enchanter,
The excavation team is dead. They were killed long before I got there. With the artifact in hand, we left the site and headed north to Denerim. Mr. Guss, my mule, was killed and eaten. From there I had to haul the cart by hand. A few days shy of Denerim we encountered a town raided, pillaged and plundered by bandits and ne’erdowells. Wanting to help out the local population we assisted the new appoint baron. This man seems to be employing apostates. I alerted the local Templars, but they lack the numbers to help.
While investigating the bandits we discovered the baron is working with the bandits. Heading back to town the apostate and its Chasind filth ambushed us on the road. The apostate escaped before I could capture it. When we returned to town, I come to discover unknown assailants had stolen our goods. I am no longer in possession of the artifact at the point of writing this letter.

.day one.I find myself in woodland place far from my father and family. My guide in this place is a elven lass whom looks as if she would rather stick me than share my fire. A warrior that can’t hit the wagon we left behind in the hovel of a shanty town we left behind. A country bumpkin that happens to be a circle mage and a madman that I’m sure is out there somewhere. The dwarf is the only one of the lot with his weight and his snores are most likely what woke the dead we fought before we rested. I am just shaken by events, the sooner I can be back in the city the better. The Dalish can keep these woods and the curses that go with it.Ivan Van Markham

Of Wolves and Magic

Perhaps it was a stroke of luck, or some plan set in motion by the Maker, but Mira found herself in the company of one Phiter Kolb. Who then in turn found themselves with a curious companion and his furry, four legged partner. While traveling to the Brescilian Forest, the company found themselves accosted by rather aggressive pack of wolves. Though she was able to dispatch of the beasts, they left Mira injured. To her surprise, Kolb proved to a mage of the Circle, and use those magics to heal her wounds. What a stroke of luck, she was certainly glad that she wouldn’t be meeting the Maker that day.

- - -
… Maker’s breath… the carnage they found was enough to make even the most seasoned of warriors retch. Whatever task had been given to Kolb was certainly the type that set them on the path of danger. These men’s lives meant little to whoever had slaughtered them so carelessly. At that time, Mira made it her personal duty to protect Mister Kolb, she felt that his mission was very important, even though she didn’t know all the details.

“GAH!!” White hot pain shot through her body as a fanged maw crushed past her armor and sunk into the flesh of her arm. A second wolf had joined the fray and made to take her down. The beast swung it’s violently, nearly ripping her arm from the socket.

“You bastard!!” Mira shrieked, trying to spin her free arm, that which held her shield, Mira tried her best to swing the beast off. That is where she made her mistake. Taking her eyes off the first wolf gave it the opportunity it was looking for.

“AH!” Mira felt the impact shudder down to her very bones as the first wolf slammed into her, spines, teeth and claws ripping against her armor. The ground came to meet her with a sharp pang, the jolt ran through to every nerve in her body. Her vision blurred for a moment as a third wolf bared down on her, fangs and claws rending the clothe pieces of her armor and making a mess of the flesh beneath.

This was it… this was how it was going to end.

“Papa… Maker… I’m sorry…” The breathless whisper escaped her bloodied lips as she slipped away from consciousness. What felt like a life time later, a cool sensation filled her body, a tingling sensation ran its way down to every fingertip and every toe. As Mira came back to the surface of reality, she could feel the flesh and bone knitting itself back together. She felt her heart beat stronger and her lungs gasped for a deep breath of air.

All she did was simply smile up at Kolb as he poured more magic into healing her battered body. A soft whisper came from her. “Thank you…”

Quick notes

Journal Entry – Tuesday
My harrowing was horrible. There was a face, a face in the fade… I never will forget that face.

Regardless, the Arch-Mage is proud of my overcoming the harrowing and even Templar Dran, thoguht I did very well. So much so, he even said he had a special mission for me to do. He’ll tell me about it tomorrow, he sent me to rest. After I finish this journal I will eat and then sleep. Good night.

Thursday
Dear journal,

Yesterday was a long day, I am currently on the road right now headed across Ferendel. The Arch-Mage has tasked me with retrieving a Tevinter artifact that a team has discovered. Mr. Gus is a strong mule I bought from the local farmers as well as some discrete clothing. I have heard mages aren’t too trusted out here, I would rather just get there not accosted.

Monday?
Dear journal,

Sorry for the lack of entries, it has been nice to be out of the circle. The fresh air and the usually wonderful people. I met up with a very friendly young adventurer named Mira. I told her I was headed to the Brecilian Forest looking to meet up with some workers from the circle. She said that she wanted to see the world and would love to join me.

Wednesday
Dear journal,

I thank the Maker for Mira, she saved my skin from a wolf attack. Her quick blade kept them at bay, though she was pretty hurt. I had to heal her, while she was surprised she was thankful for my healing skills. Eventually, I caved in and explained to her that I was working for the circle.

Journal, as a side note the greatest tragedy is that, she’s kinda cute.

Saturday?
Dear journal,

We’ve added two more to our party. The first being a well behaved dog, the other being it’s owner. Apparently the owner’s sister was murdered by a horned man, and he’s looking for him. From the description, it sounds to me like one of the Qunari. Hopefully, he doesn’t end up having problems.

As a side note, I am not sure what he does. He talks a lot and he’s very friendly, but for life of me I am not sure much about him. It’s probably to do with my seclusion. Books are much easier to read then people.

Tuesday?
Journal,

Everyone was dead. I have the artifact and heading back now. The guards that were to escort me lay flayed on the ground. I need more security. I have promised Mira and Anslo, coinage for successfully returning me to the circle. I know the Arch-Mage, and the circle will understand and be able to forward the 20 gold a piece I have promised them. The circle must be well enough funded that such small amounts wouldn’t cause too much of a stir.

Ancient texts speak of how knights would be given twice as much if not more to go on quests. In fact, the tale of sir……….

Thursday
Dear Journal,

The Maker smiles upon me again, we’ve found another party. While they are not directly heading for the circle they have promised to help me. As long as myself and my party aids them in their small endeavor now. There has been some problems with missing Dalish and this party is tasked with looking for them.

Once we find these lost hunters and return them to their clan everything should be fine and we can move on.

This other party has 3 members, the first being a loud and boisterous Dwarf named Hakon. He hails from Orsimmar Nobility and is looking to return. Thus the return past the circle fits within his traveling plans excellently. The second is a, well I think he’s a bard. He draws a bit and is very charismatic. His wine was a lot better then mine. His name is Ivan. Lastly, there is Elora. She’s a dalish scout that is escorting Ivan throughout the forest on his quest. I am not sure if she will stay with us after the quest is over though.

Friday
Dear Journal,

We’ve encountered a farm house. It was ransacked. There were bodies everywhere. So much blood, I don’t. It’s hard to write. We found an elfen girl, close to death. She’s stable now, but unconscious. The literate bard, caught sight of an unknown symbol and copied it on page (…). I don’t recognize it, but now we need to find the girl medical attention.

Friday continued
Dear journal,

It seems the Dalish are not liked very liked in this area. We made it to a small village and brought the girl to the Chantry. The villagers however, formed a large mob and attempted to seige the Chantry when they heard of the elfen girl. Luckily the Ivan, the bard detoured them. He’s as skilled with words as his crossbow.

It would be best to stay on his good side, luckily he seems to be a friendly enough fellow.

Saturday
Dear journal,

My luck seems to have ran out. Anslo has left the party, he’s heard news of the horned man to the North. Still, I wish him the best of luck and hope to see him again in my travels!

Additionally, the girl has awoken and speaks of a terrible evil that has come about deep in the South East of the forest. She says that this evil is likely to spread throughout the lands. Additionally, whatever evil has awakened is related to the missing hunters. As such, my guards need to investigate. Supposedly there are ancient ruins involved.

This detour is ill advised, but returning alone is almost asking for danger. I…well, if this evil turns out to be true and people die from it. I must do something, in the best case scenario, we find these hunters, the evil is small/non-existant, and I can do a bit of quick research into these ruins.

Wish us luck!

Sunday
Dear journal,

I don’t have long to write, but I have seen the face of death. It looks exactly like a giant fissure hundreds of yards deep and filled with sharp rocks.